Inflammation and metastases.

Results of experimental studies on cancer dissemination, as well as certain clinical observations, strongly suggest a relation between inflammation and tumor spread. Surgical trauma and postoperative septic complications can result in severe inflammation and in consequence worsening prognosis after curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Clinical signs of inflammation, such as fever, elevated leucocytosis and/or C-reactive protein seem to be of poor prognostic significance, heralding recurrence of cancer. If so, it could be hypothesized that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may play a beneficial role in reduction of cancer relapses. To evaluate the above hypothesis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are suggested as an adjuvant postoperative treatment in a clinical trial on humans.